The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-02-23
A, X. YERKES. Publisher.
WE ARE DIVIDED.

Like a tbunder-clap from a cloudless
sky came the news of the division OF
Gallatin county by the fifteenth legisla'
ture, the act of which, taken from the
Independent and absolutely correct, il
presented under another caption. The
division of Gallatin county was not ex-
pected at the opening Of the legislature.
by reason of tile congressional restric-
tion act. Shrewd Helena lawyers and
active (perhaps paid) representatives Of
the future county soon shattered in
pieces this slight opposition, and, well
armored with petitions, largely signed,
and statements most carefully worded
and exhaustively prepared during
months of waiting. the Park county men
marched forward to the main battlefield
prepared to silence every gun and batter
down the most formidable breastworks
that could or had been silently erected
Once on the field, they found, to their
surprise, that no Notifications had been
erected, and that the enemy were sound.
ly asleep in their tents. Only blank
cartridges and flash-pans barred their
progress, and the field was soon in their
possession. In other words, while those
opposed to county division were doing
nothing, those in favor of 1t were leav'
ing no stone unturned to accomplish
their ends, coming to the legislature pre-
pared to demand and receive consider
ate hearing, and if there is any occasion
for blame, II should rest on the should
eH Of those who are the loudest in
their denunciations now, and were the
quietest when occasion required them to
speak and act. s.,.-
In the creation Of Park county we
have lost an area of country devoted
principally to stock rising and mining Of
. mountainous character, composing
about 100000 acres. We have lost
about 5000 annual taxes from the
Northern Pacific railroad, about the
same from Nelson Story, 81 500 from
Myers Bros, besides many other large
and small taxpayers, who possess an
assessed vuiunttuu uf 42, 100000. These
have we lost.
This, in few words, have we Gained:
$4,000 in cold cash or in warrants as
valuable; a riddance of those who. year
after year regarded us as foes. and have
shaped their actions in accordance.
They have made us world Of trouble
and in every way have shown them
selves to be alienated to our interest,
and uncompromisingly opposed to oul
advancement.
Thus haxsrwe, impartially we think
presented both sides of the question
Wecannot say whether the loss Of the
eastern portion of the county will be .
serious disadvantage or otherwise until
it becomes Park county. But We car
safely say that If there are no apparent
detrimental results, Gallatin county has
done well in getting rid OF such an un
desirable and unnatural offspring undel
such advantageous terms.
There are features connected with the
passage Of this bill that we take deal
of comfort from, and which should no!
be overlooked. Each and every mem.
Der of the house from this county live
on. this side of the county. They are al
old citizens, well-to-do, thorough bust
ness men, and have their all invested
here. They carefully viewed division
from every point of view. and, conclud
ing that they could dictate advantageous
instead of being forced to agree to disad
vantageous terms two years hence. &C
cepted the inevitable while they had th'
vantage ground. No one has. nor no ont
can impeach their acts as the acts o
those undulv influenced